Keeping It Real
Shaggy Lyrics

Uh- that's right
Acknowledgement of reality

Reality checkin on in
Becoming aware of the truth

Street lights eh
Street lights being an indication of reality

Scorpion yeah uh
The harsh reality being likened to a scorpion

When I was young
Recalling a past time

I use to dream of being rich
Longing for wealth

Have alot of houses and cars
Desiring material possessions

Couldn't know which one was which
Losing track of belongings due to excess

And finding me a chick and getting hitched
Wishing for a fairytale relationship

Living the fairy tale life perfect without a hitch
Fantasizing about a perfect life

You think that this would bring me happiness
Believing that material success equates to happiness

If at the end of every rainbow there was a treasure chest
Compares wealth to the search for treasure at the end of a rainbow

Sometimes having more is really less
Acknowledging that more material things may not bring happiness

So take a look inside yourself
Encouraging self-reflection

You'll realize you're really blessed
Realizing the blessings in one's life

No matter how you're sad and blue
Even during tough times

There's always someone who has it worse than you
Recognizing that others may be struggling more

Sometimes you gotta pay your dues
Acknowledging the need to work hard and persevere

So don't worry just push on through
Encouraging resilience

Keep'n it real
Staying truthful to oneself

Gotta big up all my peoples who be working on the future
Recognizing those who are working hard to better their future

Though they know they gotta struggle
Acknowledge the hardships of hard work

To all my homies working on the 9 to 5
Acknowledging those who have a traditional job

And doing right to keep themselves up out of trouble
Making positive choices to avoid negative consequences

Although sometimes I know it seems impossible
Acknowledge the difficulty of hard work

There ain't no need in drowning in your sorrows
Encouraging perseverance instead of giving up

If things are as bad as they can be
Accepting the current difficulties

You can be sure there'll be a brighter tomorrow
Looking forward to a better future

All the harsh realities
The difficult aspects of life

Appears to come in twos and threes
Trouble often comes in clusters

Don't worry cuz
Do not stress

There'll be a better day
Believing in a brighter future

One thing I can promise you
A statement of assurance

Just keep on keeping on
Keep pushing forward

I swear to you
Making a solemn promise

There's gonna be a brighter day
Believing in a better future

Back in the days
Returning to a previous time

I use to dream of being rich
Thinking about past desires

Couldn't know which one was which
Too many material possessions

Is not enough for me now that depends
Change in priorities over time

Again- not everything you want is everything you really need
Knowing that material things may not bring happiness

The standard of society is motivated by greed
Critiquing society's obsession with materialism and greed

Tell me are you prepared to follow
Asking about one's own priorities

Tell me, you prepared to lead
Questioning whether one will be a leader or follower

So persevere and you'll succeed
Encouraging perseverance and hard work to achieve success

That's right, see me, yeah
Affirmative statement

Give thanks fa wha you have, ya kno
Being grateful for one's blessings

And when you think that its bad
During tough times

There's always somebody that's worse
Acknowledging that others may have more difficult lives

Kno what I'm sayin'
Do you understand?

Give Jah blessing, see me
Blessings from a higher power

Wa-wa, Wa-wa
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